🇫🇷 Une version française de ce guide se trouve ici.
I’m doing a quick series on “stuff that should be seen and repeated during each CEFR level and instead is taught once or twice during the entire curriculum.” I’ve already done an entry I’m quite proud of on basic German prepositions and their functions from A1 to C1:
A Guide to basic German prepositions
I initially said I wouldn’t provide any learning material. The main reason is, internet is full of high quality articles and blogs providing explanations on the German language in English. Furthermore, it’s just not my niche, and I want to focus on what I’m doing well already.
Genders of German nouns are quite a torment: there are three of them and the declensions they induce in articles and adjectives are nightmare-inducing. I’ve found the help provided during my learning to be insufficient: I was told at some point in A1 that words finishing in -ung, -heit and -keit are feminine, and then during a B1 course I received a large list of groups of nouns as well as endings for each gender.
It’s insufficient because I should have seen many endings and word groups explicitly before the B1 level. It is also not ideal because I was given groups in B1 that were not applicable during that level, such as words ending in -ling or stones being generally masculine —1 something more applicable to the C1 level. Giving too much information is better than giving too little, but too much information that isn’t applicable is a waste of time, focus and energy.
What I think would have been ideal: at the beginning of each level, you’re being given a new list of endings and word groups that supplement the list you’ve seen already — except at A1, where you get a new list during the middle of the course. This new list is specific to your level, with words you already know and new words you’ll apply during that level. This process also allows students to repeat what they’ve learned in previous levels, and repetition is the only path to success when learning a language.
As mentioned above, genders of nouns are particularly important because adjective declensions partly derive from them. Repeating and expanding genders of nouns pairs well with a repetition and an expansion in adjective declensions — something which is done at every level anyway, from A2 to C1.
The following is my humble contribution to an enhanced curriculum. It’s definitely not perfect, but it’s better structured than what I’ve seen online. Feel free to reach out if you see any improvement to be made or if there is correction to be made. Also, if you want to create a better version out of it, feel free to do so!
You can train the following rules with a series of exercises here.
A1
Masculine
Days of the week are Masculine
der Montag, der Dienstag, der Mittwoch, der Freitag, der Sonntag
Parts of the day are mostly Masculine
der Abend, der Morgen, der Vormittag, der Nachmittag
Exception: die Nacht
Months are Masculine
der Januar, der Februar, der Juli, der August, der September
Seasons are Masculine
der Herbst, der Sommer, der Winter, der Frühling
Words designating Men, including through professions and nationalities, are Masculine
der Mann, der Lehrer, der Sportler, der Bäcker, der Verkäufer, der Fahrer, der Schweizer, der Italiener, der Amerikaner, der Türke, der Pole, der Berliner
Feminine
Nature words (including fruits and vegetables) are usually Feminine
die Pflanze, die Blume, die Aubergine, die Erdbeere, die Birne
Exceptions: der Baum, der Apfel, der Sellerie, das Gras
Words finishing in -ung are Feminine
die Zeitung, die Heizung, die Rechnung, die Zahlung, die Erklärung
Most words (about 90%) finishing in -e are Feminine
die Lampe, die Sonne, die Pause, die Straße, die Tasche, die Frage
Exceptions: das Auge, der Name
Professions finishing in -in are Feminine
die Ärztin, die Lehrerin, die Bäckerin, die Fahrerin, die Verkäuferin
Words designating Women, including through professions and nationalities, are Feminine
die Frau, die Ärztin, die Lehrerin, die Bäckerin, die Fahrerin, die Verkäuferin, die Schweizerin, die Französin, die Spanierin, die Polin
Neuter
Young people and young animals are usually Neuter
das Baby, das Kind, das Lamm, das Ferkel, das Kalb
A2
Masculine
Plant-based drinks are usually Masculine
der Saft, der Kakao, der Kaffee, der Tee
Appliances are usually Masculine
der Fernseher, der Computer, der Mixer, der Kühlschrank, der Herd
Weathers are usually Masculine
der Regen, der Hagel, der Wind, der Nebel, der Sturm, der Schnee
Exceptions: das Klima, die Wolke
Words finishing in -or are usually Masculine
der Motor, der Autor, der Direktor, der Professor, der Doktor
Exception: das Tor
Feminine
Words finishing in -heit are Feminine
die Freiheit, die Schönheit, die Gesundheit, die Gleichheit, die Reinheit
Words finishing in -keit are Feminine
die Möglichkeit, die Gerechtigkeit, die Fähigkeit, die Arbeitslosigkeit
Words finishing in -ion are usually Feminine
die Reaktion, die Diskussion, die Information, die Definition, die Emotion
Neuter
Words finishing with the suffixes -chen and -lein are Neuter
das Mädchen, das Kätzchen, das Häuschen, das Jährlein, das Fräulein
Words finishing in -ment are usually Neuter
das Dokument, das Monument, das Testament, das Medikament, das Instrument
Exception: der Moment, der Zement
B1
Masculine
Senses are usually Masculine
der Sinn, der Blick, der Duft, der Klang, der Geschmack
Exceptions: das Gehör
Cardinal directions are Masculine
der Norden, der Süden, der Osten, der Westen
Words finishing in -ig are Masculine
der König, der Honig, der Essig, der Käfig
Feminine
Words finishing in -schaft are Feminine
die Mannschaft, die Freundschaft, die Gesellschaft, die Gemeinschaft, die Landschaft
Words finishing in -ie are usually Feminine
die Phantasie, die Poesie, die Energie, die Melodie, die Demokratie
Words finishing in -ik are usually Feminine
die Musik, die Politik, die Kritik, die Technik, die Mathematik
Words finishing in -tät are Feminine
die Qualität, die Universität, die Aktivität, die Identität, die Realität
Words finishing in -ur are usually Feminine
die Natur, die Kultur, die Temperatur, die Struktur, die Figur
Words finishing in -ei are Feminine
die Bäckerei, die Metzgerei, die Polizei, die Partei, die Schreiberei
Neuter
Words formed from verb stems that end in -en are usually Neuter
das Leben, das Essen, das Lernen
Words finishing in -um are generally Neuter
das Studium, das Zentrum, das Datum, das Museum, das Gymnasium
Exception: der Irrtum
Words beginning in Ge- are usually Neuter
das Gefühl, das Geschenk, das Gewölk, das Gebäude, das Getränk
B2
Masculine
Alcohols are usually Masculine
der Wein, der Champagner, der Cocktail, der Schnaps, der Saft
Exception: das Bier
Words finishing in -ant are Masculine
der Elefant, der Praktikant, der Demonstrant, der Lieferant
Words finishing in -eur are Masculine
der Ingenieur, der Friseur, der Chauffeur, der Amateur
Words formed from verb stems that do not end in -en or -t are usually Masculine
der Schlaf, der Lauf, der Ruf, der Wurf, der Kampf
Feminine
Words finishing in -ette are Feminine
die Etikette, die Zigarette, die Vignette, die Kassette, die Serviette
Words finishing in -thek are Feminine
die Diskothek, die Bibliothek, die Hypothek, die Pinakothek
Words finishing in -ine are Feminine
die Mandarine, die Lawine, die Maschine, die Marine
Words formed from verb stems that end in -t are usually Feminine
die Fahrt, die Tat, die Sicht, die Schlacht, die Arbeit
Neuter
Materials are usually Neuter
das Glas, das Gold, das Silber, das Papier, das Holz
Exception: der Stahl, die Bronze
Words finishing in -nis are mostly Neuter
das Ergebnis, das Zeugnis, das Verständnis, das Ereignis, das Geheimnis
Words coming from the English language are usually Neuter
das Team, das Internet, das Marketing, das Designdas Smartphone, das Streaming, das Homeoffice
Words coming from the French or Latin who do not have a recurring ending are usually Neuter
das Café, das Restaurant, das Büro, das Hotel
Words of foreign origins finishing in -o are usually Neuter
das Kino, das Foto, das Auto, das Konto
Concepts and abstractions are usually Neuter
das Beispiel, das Mal, das Problem, das Ziel, das Prinzip, das Thema, das Objekt, das Subjekt, das Ding
C1
Masculine
Car names from brands are Masculine
der Mercedes, der Toyota, the Tesla, der Citroen, der Subaru
Stones are usually Masculine
der Stein, der Diamant, der Saphir, der Lapislazuli, der Fels
Objects in space are usually Masculine
der Stern, der Mond, der Asteroid, der Komet, der Planet
Exception: die Sonne
Currencies are usually Masculine
der Euro, der Dollar, der Schilling, der Franken, der Pfennig
Exceptions: die Mark, das Pfund, die Krone
Words finishing in -ismus are Masculine
der Kapitalismus, der Kommunismus, der Sozialismus, der Realismus, der Tourismus
Words finishing in -ling are Masculine
der Lehrling, der Flüchtling, der Schmetterling, der Zwilling, der Feigling
Words finishing in -ast are Masculine
der Kontrast, der Dynast, der Gast, der Gymnast, der Enthusiast
Words finishing in -ich are usually Masculine
der Bereich, der Teppich, der Deich, der Streich, der Strich
Exception: das Reich
Rivers outside Germany are usually Masculine
der Ganges, der Nil, der Severn, der Amazonas, der Volga, der Po
Exceptions: die Loire, die Themse
Mountains and Mountain ranges are usually Masculine
der Brocken, der Spessart, der Mont Blanc, der Mount Everest, der Himalaya, der Aconcagua
Feminine
Numbers are Feminine
die Eins, die Zwei, die Vier, die Million, die Milliarde
Words finishing in -ade are Feminine
die Dekade, die Blockade, die Limonade, die Schokolade, die Parade
Words finishing in -ive are Feminine
die Perspektive, die Initiative, die Alternative, die Offensive, die Defensive
Words finishing in -enz are Feminine
die Intelligenz, die Tendenz, die Existenz, die Konkurrenz, die Frequenz
Words finishing in -anz are usually Feminine
die Arroganz, die Distanz, die Toleranz, die Eleganz, die Relevanz
Exception: der Tanz
Words finishing in -sis are Feminine
die Analysis, die Basis, die Thesis, die Dosis, die Psychosis
Words in the context of war are usually Feminine
die Krieg, die Waffe, die Kugel, die Armee, die Schlacht
Rivers inside Germany are usually Feminine
die Weser, die Donau, die Maas, die Memel
Neuter
Words finishing in -ma of Greek origins are Neuter
das Thema, das Schema, das Klima, das Drama, das Trauma
Words finishing with the suffixes -sal and -sel are usually Neuter
das Schicksal, das Rinnsal, das Rätsel, das Scheusal, das Gerinnsel, das Mitbringsel
Exception: die Mühsal, die Trübsal
Abstract adjectives as words are Neuter
das Gute, das Gelernt
Colors are Neuter
das Blau, das Gelb, das Rot, das Grün, das Schwarz
Letters are Neuter
das A, das B, das M, das U, das Z
Languages are Neuter
das Deutsch, das Französisch, das English, das Spanish, das Arabisch
Hotels, Cafés, Restaurants and Cinemas are Neuter
das “Hilton”, das “Kranzler”, das “Kapitol”, das “Roxy”
Updates
January 30th, 2026: Addition of words in -ich, -sel, -sal, and languages
January 21st, 2026: Correction of Nationalities and Suffixes in -chen and -lein
I write em-dashes myself; nothing in my Substack is AI-generated :)